Synopsis

Electrical and Mechanical Engineers salvage damaged civilian motor vehicles in Rangoon, capital of Burma, following its capture by troops of XV Indian Corps.

A city street in Rangoon; a Chevrolet CMP wrecker lorry tows a civilian car or station wagon into a building being used as a workshop. The recovered vehicle is set down. Close-up of the winch mechanism unwinding. The tow hook is unhitched. The crew of the wrecker lorry drive back out into the city to look…

Electrical and Mechanical Engineers salvage damaged civilian motor vehicles in Rangoon, capital of Burma, following its capture by troops of XV Indian Corps.

A city street in Rangoon; a Chevrolet CMP wrecker lorry tows a civilian car or station wagon into a building being used as a workshop. The recovered vehicle is set down. Close-up of the winch mechanism unwinding. The tow hook is unhitched. The crew of the wrecker lorry drive back out into the city to look for more salvageable vehicles; they pass a large hoarding advertising Capstan Cigarettes. An Indian Engineer uses the lorry's tow cables to nimbly climb up onto the back of the wrecker. An Albion light van, obviously damaged but apparently salvageable, is hitched up and brought back to the workshop. A D-2 Caterpillar Tractor found abandoned in the city is used to recover more vehicles. A motorcycle seen being used to tow another back to the workshop. Indian Engineers at work on the van seen at the start. An Indian sergeant shows a paper to a British engineer, named on the dopesheet as Warrant Officer R Copeland of Woodbine Avenue, Walk End, Northumberland. Copeland looks at the vehicle's engine before taking it out on test. A chalk numberplate states: '54 Workshop Company - IEME [Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers] - ON TEST'. The bonnet is closed and the car driven away. Warrant Officer Copeland, satisfied with the car's performance, gets out and gives a thumbs-up; he has a large field dressing between his shoulder blades. A number ('R/26/25') is painted on the bonnet along with the name 'Mrs Frequently'; a prime example of mechanics' humour.

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